Tanya nodded.
— Well, my Eddie married their daughter, Natalie. To be honest, she’s a wonderful girl, and she didn’t come into the marriage empty-handed. She loves my son, and he loves her. They’re expecting a baby. On paper, it should be a happy story. But yesterday my son told me something that turned my whole world upside down.
Eleanor paused, gathering herself, then continued.
— Their baby is going to be born with Down syndrome. And you understand what that means for a family — and for me, in my position. I’m not even talking about the fact that Eddie and Natalie will have to give up the life they planned. People talk. They always do. And our mayor doesn’t like anyone on his team becoming the center of a scandal. He’d find a polite way to show me the door.
— Then why didn’t they terminate? These things are usually caught early now, — Tanya asked.
— They’re young. Idealistic. They think love will solve everything. Bottom line, I need to figure out how to make this child disappear from our lives. Naturally, I’ll cover every expense.
Tanya was stunned. In all her years running the department, there had never been any baby-switching or shady arrangement under her watch. If a mother gave up a child, it was documented properly, every line of it. What am I supposed to do? she thought. You don’t just say no to someone like Eleanor.
— How long until delivery? — Tanya asked.
— About four weeks. Think of something. I’ll make it worth your while. The chief administrator position is opening up soon, — Eleanor said. Then, in a softer voice, she added, — You understand, don’t you? A child like this will wreck all of our lives. And the kids — they had plans. Big ones. Every one of them will die right here.
Eleanor stood to leave. Tanya stood too.
— I’ll see what I can do, — she said, though she had no idea what that could possibly be.
But by the next day, a plan had taken shape.
The conversation with her son was long and exhausting. Eleanor offered one argument after another, and every one of them hit a wall.
— Natalie and I made our decision. We’re raising our daughter, no matter what, — Edward said.
— No, Eddie. You won’t be raising her. At best, you’ll be managing her care. Fine — you won’t listen to me. Then let me show you what your life is going to look like if you go through with this.
— And how exactly are you planning to show me that? — Edward asked.
— Saturday. You’ll see for yourself. And don’t say a word to Natalie. Tell her you’ve got work, — Eleanor said.
As soon as he left, she called a residential care facility for disabled children.
— Hello, Ms. Whitaker, — came the wary voice of the director.
— Hello, Martha. How are things? Did those new therapy units come in? — Eleanor began casually.
— Yes, they did. Thank you. We’ve already started setting them up, — the woman answered, already sensing this call wasn’t really about equipment.
— Martha, I need a confidential favor. Very confidential, — Eleanor said. — This Saturday I need to bring my son through for a tour. I’ll explain the details in person, but I need you to show him the hardest cases. No sugarcoating. I need him to understand that children like this are a lifelong burden.
Martha had worked at the facility for years. She’d started as an aide and worked her way up to director, but she had never grown numb to the children there — children abandoned like unwanted baggage. Eleanor’s words made her stomach turn, but she answered evenly:
— All right. What time should we expect you?
— Around nine. We’ll walk through the facility first, then talk in your office. And please try to make it clear that children like this are better off in a place like yours.
— I’ll do what I can, — Martha said, though her conscience rebelled.
By the time Natalie learned there might be serious health issues with the baby, she had already accepted the challenge, understood the responsibility, and was waiting eagerly for her daughter’s arrival. Love had come long before birth. Often, stroking her growing belly, she would whisper:
— Don’t be scared, sweetheart. Mom’s right here. We’ll get through this together. You’re going to be the happiest little girl in the world.
Natalie wasn’t afraid of the future. Edward was beside her, steady and supportive. Their bedroom had begun to look like a small library. The two of them read everything they could about how to make life easier for their daughter and how to help her develop from the very beginning. Natalie’s eyes had that special light women sometimes carry when they’re waiting for a child.
Edward would look at his wife, and her confidence would steady him too. But every so often he remembered his mother’s words, and they worked into his mind like a splinter. What if Mom’s right? he thought. What if we can’t do this?
